Stepmom Page #3

EXT. SCHOOL, ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY - MOMENTS LATER

Jackie and Luke exit the pleasant suburban school. Head for the

parking area...

LUKE:

You ask me that counselor's making

a mountain out of a molehill...

JACKIE:

I'm worried.

LUKE:

Me too.

JACKIE:

Luke, I need to switch next Friday for

Thursday, so why don't you take the

weekend...

(pointedly)

...that way you'll be there, and I'll

pick up Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

LUKE:

Fine. But I wanted to take the kids

to work with me on Wednesday so I'll

take Wednesday, and you can pick up

that Thursday, Friday after soccer,

and Saturday before riding.

JACKIE:

Easy enough.

LUKE:

Good...Well...Take care.

As if on automatic pilot they move in to kiss each other goodbye

then stop. Each takes a step back. 15 years of hellos and

goodbyes. A beat. A wave. They head their separate ways.

EXT. JACKIE'S HOME - NIGHT

Establishing shot of Jackie's lovely home on its lovely street.

Old trees. Comfortable front lawns. Safe and happy. A place to

grow kids, dogs, probably walruses, even. We PUSH toward the warm

glow from within this home...

INT. JACKIE'S HOME - NIGHT

Jackie setting the table. Annabelle recording the moment with her

omnipresent VIDEO CAMERA...

ANNABELLE:

I didn't say that. Why would I say

that?

JACKIE:

Well Daddy and I were thinking that

sometimes people tell a story about

what they wish would happen.

ANNABELLE:

I don't want that to happen. Why

would I want that to happen?

JACKIE:

Well you're telling your teachers and

your friends --

ANNABELLE:

Mass hysteria.

JACKIE:

Maybe you're upset that Rachel moved in.

ANNABELLE:

I'm not upset. Why would I be upset?

JACKIE:

Look if the truth is you don't feel like

talking about this right now that's fine.

But don't look me in the eye with a big

smile on your face and lie to me.

Cause there are only so many lies you're

allowed to tell before it starts showing

on your face. You wind up looking like...

She stops. It's just too horrible.

ANNABELLE:

Like who?

JACKIE:

Well, he's not president anymore, so

why be petty.

Ben enters in white gloves and Jackie's scarf.

BEN:

Pick a card. Any card.

Jackie picks a card.

ANNABELLE:

It just slipped out.

JACKIE:

It happens.

ANNABELLE:

(a beat)

What happens when he loves Rachel more

than us?

JACKIE:

That will never happen.

ANNABELLE:

Never say never you always say that.

I'll bet daddy's mad at me now.

BEN:

Queen of diamonds.

JACKIE:

Seven of clubs. Nobody's mad we just

want to talk about it.

ANNABELLE:

I'm gonna call him.

JACKIE:

Annabelle, daddy and I will always be there.

That's one time always is always. You

can call him after dinner but...

Annabelle RUNS out of the room. Jackie watches her sadly. Ben

hits Jackie hard with his magic wand.

BEN:

Poof! You're happy now.

JACKIE:

Thank you Ben.

(unhappily)

Annabelle!

Ben finds himself alone in the kitchen. He hits himself on the

head, hard. Poof! He begins to serve himself dinner. Alone.

EXT. RESTAURANT, SOHO - NIGHT

Rachel and Luke exit a neighborhood bistro. Stroll down the

street...

RACHEL:

(irritated)

Okay, if they're going to have a

sauce, put something in it besides

flour and chicken broth...

LUKE:

(quietly)

It was a veal stock, I thi...

RACHEL:

Well, it wasn't a reduction like

you do it! Boiling down half a

ton of bones...

Luke is thinking of something. She's watching that.

RACHEL:

The way you cook. If you could

make love, I'd marry you.

LUKE:

(softly)

We have to talk.

RACHEL:

(happy)

Uh-oh. I mention marriage, all

of a sudden...

(ominous Nazi Baritone)

Ve haff to ta...

LUKE:

I didn't want to spoil our supper...

RACHEL:

You'd rather spoil our walk home.

LUKE:

Yeh, it's cheaper.

Okay, what?

LUKE:

I just found out I have to go to

Boston to get a deposition. I might

not be back until Saturday.

RACHEL:

(mock horror)

So I'll have to order in?

LUKE:

(dropping the other shoe)

We have the kids this weekend, so...

RACHEL:

(softly)

Jesus.

He glances over...

RACHEL:

I thought it was her weekend. Do I

ever see you alone?

He draws a breath. The concern is behind his eyes.

LUKE:

Anyway, I thought...while I'm

gone...maybe I'll hire in some help.

RACHEL:

For what?

LUKE:

Just a babysitter -- I mean...you're

working...

RACHEL:

I can take them to work with me -- I

can shift things around --

LUKE:

You don't need to. I don't expect you

to handle them yourself.

RACHEL:

Can't handle them myself is what you

mean. Can't.

Maybe she's right. Because he doesn't say anything.

RACHEL:

You don't trust me to be alone with

them.

LUKE:

I trust you of course I do but --

RACHEL:

But? But what?

LUKE:

But you're not good at this. Not yet.

I'm sorry.

RACHEL:

I know how responsible, caring adults

parent children. I'm bribe 'em. But

'em a dog or something. Maybe a Doberman.

He loves her. But this problem is real.

RACHEL:

Look. I know they hate me.

LUKE:

They don't hate you --

RACHEL:

And what you're telling them is keep

hating her -- keep up the good work --

LUKE:

Nobody's telling them to hate you --

RACHEL:

Really? Look in your ex-wife's eyes.

LUKE:

It's complicated for Jackie. It's

complicated for me...You don't have

kids -- you don't understand --

RACHEL:

(angry now)

Oh right...So it's just complicated for

you and Jackie -- for me it's pretty

simple cause I just don't understand...

LUKE:

No you don't. And I'm not gonna

screw with my kids heads right now --

RACHEL:

You know I don't need another person in

this family making me feel like an

idiot...your ex-wife's doing a bang up

job and I have to face it every Tuesday

and Thursday and every other goddamn

weekend and I just don't know how the

hell you were married to her for so

goddamn long! Jesus what did you see in

her? I don't get it -- I just don't get

it.

They've reached their building. As they enter...

LUKE:

She's a great mother.

INT. RACHEL'S AND LUKE'S LOFT - NIGHT

The door of the freight elevator CLANGS open. As Rachel and Luke

step out into their loft, the phone is RINGING.

She looks to Luke. Then RUNS to SNATCH it up...

RACHEL:

Hello?

INTERCUT:
INT. ANNABELLE'S CLOSET - JACKIE'S HOUSE

Annabelle with a phone in her closet. Hearing Rachel, she hangs

up. A pink POST IT creeps under the door. CAN I JOIN YOU FOR

DESSERT IN THE CLOSET? VANILLA OR CHOCOLATE YOGURT. PLEASE CHECK

ONE.

INT. RACHEL'S AND LUKE'S LOFT - FRIDAY NIGHT

The most beautiful little puppy in the world -- sitting in a puddle

of pee on a hardwood floor.

RACHEL:

Aw George...not again... who wants to

help clean up this time?

(overly zealous)

Annabelle?

She looks around -- completely exhausted. It's late. Annabelle is

video taping the dog pee. Ben's in the kitchen talking to himself.

He pours and sprinkles, working intently on a MAGIC POTION.

ANNABELLE:

Why do you make that face when you talk

to me?

(she imitates Rachel)

And that voice you use...you think I'm

deaf or something?

Ben ZAPS the magic potion theatrically with his fingertips.

RACHEL:

(reaching for her)

I'm sorry, okay? Let's not fi...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes